Chapter 290: If the Demonic Cult is Cooler Than Us

TL: FoodieMonster007

A certain resonance echoed deep within Jin Paecheon's heart.

It was a feeling he had never experienced. As the Murim Alliance Chairman, he had met countless people and endured all sorts of experiences. His emotions, dry as a fossil, now operated only out of habit. He laughed, angered, and grieved habitually.

But the resonance he felt now was real.

He had lived his life deliberately ignoring a deep wound. He wanted to cut the wound out, but the more he tried, the larger the scar it left. So he covered it up and lived on. He knew it was festering inside but pretended not to. He thought everyone lived with a wound of that magnitude anyway. He had too much to do. He was the Murim Alliance Chairman.

Now, Jin Paecheon felt the pus from the wound being washed away as it began to heal. He had told himself the same thing dozens, even hundreds of times.

I wouldn't have done that.

His own words never healed the wound in his heart, yet when someone else said it for him, his emotions surged. He had a premonition that he could now be free from that wound.

To feel this way over just a few words.

Normally, his pride would have been hurt. He would have tried hard to deny it, but as he looked at Geom Mugeuk, who gazed at him with clear, deep eyes, his stirring pride quietly fell back asleep.

"Thank you for saying that."

Geom Mugeuk smiled pleasantly. The Chairman was the kind of person who could say those words at this moment. Acknowledging one's own wound and speaking those words was truly important. The final treatment was always up to the person. The Chairman had now properly wrapped the final bandage on his wound.

"Unlike you, Chairman, Baek Cheongeong refused to acknowledge it until the very end."

Geom Mugeuk naturally steered the conversation back to their previous topic.

"Until now, I believed the one who annihilated them was the brother of the Wood Heaven Clan Sect Leader. He wasn't there on the day of the annihilation, and his body was found shortly after, an apparent suicide."

"In conclusion, that body was not his."

Jin Paecheon must have investigated the matter meticulously at the time, since it was related to the Wood Heaven Clan, yet he was still deceived.

"Then who annihilated them?"

"Someone used Baek Cheongeong's thirst for revenge. They helped fake his death and helped him infiltrate the Murim Alliance with a new identity. I suspect that person is the one who annihilated the Wood Heaven Clan."

Jin Paecheon fell deep into thought. Faking a corpse and infiltrating the Alliance was not a simple matter of personal enmity. This was war. The opponent did not rely only on schemes. By annihilating the Wood Heaven Clan, they had also proven their martial prowess.

"You must keep in mind that someone is targeting the Murim Alliance."

Geom Mugeuk added another sentence to prevent any unnecessary speculation about the Demonic Cult.

"This time, they tried to kill me as well to instigate a war with our Cult. Therefore, that bastard is also an enemy of our Cult."

Geom Mugeuk did not mention that the killing of the Chairman's son and daughter-in-law might have been part of that person's plot from the beginning. That part was still uncertain.

"I will investigate thoroughly to find the mastermind."

"I'll find that bastard too. If you ever need my help, please call on me anytime. I also want to help catch this mastermind."

Geom Mugeuk limited the offer to himself, not the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. He lessened the Chairman's burden by suggesting they join hands personally, rather than forcing an alliance with the Demonic Cult.

Jin Paecheon readily accepted.

"I will."

"Then I'll see you next time. I'll meet with Young Master Jin and Miss Jin, then leave immediately."

"Wait."

Jin Paecheon called out to Geom Mugeuk, who was turning to leave. He slowly approached.

As a master like Jin Paecheon drew near, Geom Mugeuk's Heavenly Demon Defense Art activated on its own. For this moment, however, its effort was in vain.

Jin Paecheon suddenly embraced Geom Mugeuk.

"Not as the Murim Alliance Chairman, but as Haryong's grandfather, I am truly grateful to you."

Geom Mugeuk hugged him back.

"Please take care of yourself until we meet again."

Of course, he did not forget to add a playful remark.

"If there's ever been another Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult who was hugged by the Murim Alliance Chairman, tell them to step forward!"

Jin Paecheon laughed heartily before speaking honestly.

"I'm paying you back with a hug. If I had my way, I would've wanted to reward you with something grand. The Alliance's treasure vault is filled with all sorts of miracle herbs and divine weapons."

"Then give them to me. Please, give them to me!"

When Geom Mugeuk spoke without reservation, Jin Paecheon laughed.

"I'm sorry, but I must refuse. I'm afraid you'd use that added power to strike us."

"Aren't you more afraid of leaving a debt of the heart?"

"!"

Geom Mugeuk said with a smile.

"That is why I will decline any material reward."

Watching Geom Mugeuk's back as he politely bowed and turned to leave, Jin Paecheon thought what a true shame it was.

What if he wasn't the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?

He recalled the time Jin Haryong had brought Geom Mugeuk, saying she would marry a servant.

If only he were a servant.

This was Jin Paecheon's true feeling, one he could never voice to anyone.

Jin Haryong screamed and shot up.

She turned her head and saw she was in the physician's room.

"Are you okay?"

Jin Hagun had rushed in, startled.

"I dreamt I died."

In the dream, the Demon Supremes arrived after Chorim killed her. She thought they would at least shed a single tear, but Lee Ahn was so busy talking with them that she did not even care that Jin Haryong had died. That was more of a nightmare than death itself.

Why am I so disappointed when we've only properly met three times?

But those were not just any three times. The first time, they became friends. The second, they dueled. The last, he rescued her. A connection like this was truly rare.

"That won't happen now."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I'll make it so."

"That's something I have to make happen."

Although she smiled, strength filled Jin Haryong's eyes. Jin Hagun felt that his younger sister had grown through this incident.

"How long was I asleep?"

"About one hour."

Jin Haryong sat up. She felt anxious that Geom Mugeuk might have left while she slept. Even if she had to send him off, she had to say goodbye first.

"Where's Geom Mugeuk?"

"He's waiting outside. He said he'd say goodbye when you woke up."

Jin Haryong was inwardly touched that Geom Mugeuk had waited for her.

As she was about to go outside, Jin Hagun spoke.

"You know, right?"

"What?"

"That it's impossible. Don't give him your heart in the first place."

"Why? Are you worried? Worried that your only little sister might lose her heart to the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?"

To her surprise, Jin Hagun nodded.

"Yes, I'm worried that might happen."

"Isn't this when you're supposed to say, 'I trust my sister, I'm not worried about that'?"

"No, I'm worried."

If the person in question had not been Geom Mugeuk, she would have been offended, but Jin Haryong actually felt good. At least it was a matter of whether she would be paired with Geom Mugeuk.

"Orabeoni, I'm not as naive as you think."

"Then that's fine."

As she was about to leave, Jin Haryong found herself worrying about Jin Hagun instead.

"Are you okay, Orabeoni?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm telling you not to get swept up by him."

At that, Jin Hagun revealed an unexpected thought.

"Forcing yourself not to get swept up is worse. Even if you get swept up, you just have to do it selfishly."

"Selfishly?"

"Take all the good influence he gives, and don't let your own core be shaken."

Jin Haryong wondered if that would really work. If human relationships could be cut as cleanly as a radish, what was there to worry about? By that logic, the same applied to her. She had told him not to worry because she was not naive.

But can I really withstand Geom Mugeuk with just that?

"I guess we really do share the same blood. You're far from naive too, Orabeoni."

With that, the two of them went outside.

Geom Mugeuk stood in the physician's yard, looking up at the sky.

Jin Haryong stood next to him.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

"See that sky-blue color over there? That's the color of my enhanced sword qi."

"I guess it's better than a dreary color. To be struck down and killed by such a beautiful color."

At her words, Geom Mugeuk smiled and turned his head.

"Is your body okay?"

"Thanks to you."

"I waited to see your face before leaving. See you next time."

Jin Haryong was deeply saddened by her parting with Geom Mugeuk. She wanted to be with him a little longer.

Stay and hang out a little longer. Even for a few days.

But her inability to even say such words defined the nature of her relationship and destiny with Geom Mugeuk.

"Before you go, tell me this. How can I become as strong as you?"

"By training to death."

"But it seems like you're always just playing around?"

"True training is done where no one can see."

Just then, Jin Hagun slowly walked toward them.

"I heard from my grandfather about the mastermind."

He could not believe someone had manipulated his master.

Geom Mugeuk gave him the credit.

"This matter was brought to light thanks to you. If you hadn't noticed that something was strange with your Master, you might have suffered a disaster later on."

The mere thought was horrifying to Jin Hagun. If he had remained oblivious, Baek Cheongeong would have led them to ruin at a critical moment.

Jin Hagun returned the credit to Geom Mugeuk.

"It's thanks to you. I was able to figure it out because you told me not to look at an opponent carelessly, but to look at them properly."

From now on, Jin Hagun would strive to live by looking properly at everyone he faced. He would reform not only the Demon Slaying Brigade but also the Murim Alliance organization.

Geom Mugeuk offered his final farewell.

"Be careful in all things."

"You too."

Jin Hagun expressed his gratitude one last time.

"Thank you for saving my sister."

"Don't forget, and be sure to repay me later."

Thinking the reply was typical of Geom Mugeuk, Jin Hagun smiled faintly.

"Well then, let's meet again next time."

Geom Mugeuk also bid farewell to Jin Haryong.

Jin Haryong said with a smile.

"We're still friends, right?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded.

"There's a tavern near our Cult Headquarters with good liquor and a good owner. I'll invite you there sometime."

Will such a day ever really come?

The moment Jin Haryong nodded, Geom Mugeuk kicked off the ground. He soared into the air and vanished from sight in an instant.

"Orabeoni, I think we need to step it up. We can't let the Demonic Cult be cooler than us, can we?"

Jin Hagun walked away with long strides, without a word.

She knew her Orabeoni's personality better than anyone. He would not lose.

Following behind him, Jin Haryong glanced back toward the spot where Geom Mugeuk had disappeared. She soon began to walk with vigor as well. Her Orabeoni was not the only one who had gained an epiphany.

This was her first step toward becoming not the First Beauty of Hubei, but the First Sword of Hubei.

In the safehouse kitchen, Lee Ahn was cooking.

She did not know why the sudden thought occurred to her, but she felt the urge to cook for the two Demon Supremes herself. She knew three or four dishes and cooked the one she was most confident in.

"Well then, please enjoy your meal."

"You eat with us too."

"I'm fine."

The Fist Demon even gestured for her to join, so Lee Ahn ate with them.

Eating at the same table as the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Fist Demon? Isn't this clearly a punishment?

As she sat there, tense, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon ate the food and commented.

"It's bland."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was not the type to be considerate of the cook.

"Ah! I'm sorry. I made the seasoning a little weak. I'll go and make it again."

Just then, the Fist Demon grabbed the bowl Lee Ahn was about to take away.

"He said you have to eat bland food to be healthy."

"……"

"The Physician of Miracles said so."

Lee Ahn was inwardly touched. She had not expected the Fist Demon to say something like that.

The Demon Supremes are so different up close compared to how they appear on the outside.

Then again, the impression she gave on the outside and her actual personality were completely different too.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked curiously. "Why did you suddenly decide to cook for us?"

Of course, there was a reason. She had been moved and felt a sense of respect after seeing the two Demon Supremes in battle. Their strength and intensity had left a great impression on her, now that she was beginning to act in earnest as the head of the Ghost Shadow Squad. That was why she wanted to treat them to a meal she had carefully prepared.

"It's not a chance that comes often."

To that, she added something Seo Daeryong always said when they were drinking.

"When I have children later, I'm going to tell them. That when their mother was young, she personally cooked a meal for the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Fist Demon."

"Make sure you also tell them it was bland."

Lee Ahn gave an awkward laugh at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's words.

Just then, the Fist Demon spoke up unexpectedly.

"A child that resembles you and Mugeuk would be incredible."

Lee Ahn was startled by his words. At first, she thought she had misheard. Flustered, she quickly said, "How could I possibly marry the Young Cult Leader? Even though I've become a Captain, I was just a common martial artist."

"What does that matter? Neither the Cult Leader nor Mugeuk are the type to care about such things."

At the Fist Demon's words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon also nodded with an expression of agreement.

She was truly grateful to the Fist Demon for saying that. However, something always weighed on her mind. It was the first thought that came to her whenever she thought of marriage. Normally, she would not bring it up, but for some reason, she wanted to say it in front of these two fearsome men. The words came out naturally.

"I don't even know who my parents are."

At that, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon offered a word of comfort.

"Family is the enemy. It's fine not to know."

She was grateful to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon for saying that as well.

Just then, the Fist Demon said something completely unexpected.

"If that truly weighs on your mind, I will become your father."

Even the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was startled by those words. One can only imagine how surprised Lee Ahn must have been. She was so shocked and flustered that she dropped the chopsticks she was holding.

She had never had a private conversation with the Fist Demon.

So why? Does he think favorably of me from the late-night training sessions? Or is there another reason? Is it a joke? Did I mishear him this time for sure?

All sorts of thoughts ran through her head, and she did not know what to say.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk entered.

"I'm back."

Geom Mugeuk immediately grasped the frozen atmosphere.

"Nothing happened to the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult even in the Murim Alliance's Chairman's Hall, so what on earth happened at the dinner table in the safehouse?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon broke the silence.

"It's because the food is bland."